[hinton308]

Hello all. I just wanted to introduce myself. I am almost 49 and looking to buy my first Ferrari within the next 18 months. I am looking at the 348 spider or the 355 spider. I am one of the few, except owners of the 348 that likes the look of the 348. I will be PMing individual members questions over the next several months asking for advice. I have been reading the various threads on these models. So, thank you in advance for the advice!! I know I will be asking questions that you have been asked a 1000 times so I do appreciate your patience in answering them one more time. I look forward to the time I can return the favor to new forum members and pass along sage advice to the next group of Ferrari owners. My background, I currently own 6 seperate businesses that mainly revolve around financing. So, you can see where my money has gone to over the past 25 years. I hopefully have reached a time in my business life that I can now treat myself. And, I plan to do that by buying the car I have always dreamed of owning-- a Ferrari. On a personal note I am married and have a 5 year old daughter. Yes, I got a late start into fatherhood, but it has been wonderful because I truely understand how short life is and accept each day that I am here as possibly my last.
Cheers,
Don Hinton

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Welcome to FL, Don, and thanx for your self-intro. Looks like you have a wonderful life there along with a dream car to go after. There are so many here that can be of help in your search. Good luck, and do keep us busy and entertain us with questions and updates. Great to have you on board. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Tony K]

Welcome, Don, and thank you for a great introduction. Good luck in your search, and I think you'll meet some great people here.

- Tony

[Chrishawk4]

Welcome to the forum Don. Good luck on the search. Those two models are incredibly beautiful in my eyes.

[archiegibbs]

Welcome to FL, stick around and ask away.

With 308 at the end of your handle, are you sure you shouldn't be looking for a 308? I hear that Tony K might have one for sale soon ;-)

You could do a lot worse than a 308, they are fantastic cars, and despite being geriatric now, they are still wonderful to drive

[Night Life]

With a name like Don shouldn't you be looking for a white TestaRossa jk.

I am a very proud owner of a 94 348 spider if you decide to buy you will not be disappointed in any way. The car has been solid for me in every way but do expect certain gremlins to appear. In your search try to find a car with a recent major completed and updated wheels. the rest is minor stuff that you will love to do yourself, I hope you are a hands on kind of guy if you own a Ferrari you better be.

So Don if you have any questions about the 348 Lane, Sy or myself would be happy to answer

[hinton308]

Thank you everyone for the warm reception. In regards to Archie, yes I have always liked the 308/328. I think it goes back to Magnum PI being one of my favorite shows at the time. But I really want a spider so I have to choose between the 348 and the 355. Thank you for the advice Night Life. I have read your comments as well as Sy's. I like the extras that Sy has put into his 348.

[archiegibbs]

I understand you wanting a spider, I'm an open top lover myself and have owned well over a dozen different open cars over the years. Don't forget the 308/328 GTS versions are open cars too as the targa roof comes out, plus you get the added advantage of the strength of the rear buttress in the event of a roll over. You get the best of both worlds with the GTS

[IPF]

Originally Posted by archiegibbs

I understand you wanting a spider, I'm an open top lover myself and have owned well over a dozen different open cars over the years. Don't forget the 308/328 GTS versions are open cars too as the targa roof comes out, plus you get the added advantage of the strength of the rear buttress in the event of a roll over. You get the best of both worlds with the GTS

Hear, hear!

348s are very nice indeed, but anyone looking for a classic spider should at least consider/try out the 328 GTS. I can guarantee you, you'll love it. I'm not a big cabrio lover, but the targa experience of the 328 is sublime.

Anyway, these are the nicer dilemma's in life, aren't they? Whichever choice you end up making, congrats in advance on going the F-way!

[Boxer]

Don, Welcome to FLife and good luck on your quest. Suggest you contact both Chaz and gothspeed regarding the F355. Both are very knowledgable. Per Archie's comments on the 328, it would also be worthwhile at least test driving a 360 to get an idea on how the models at both ends of your target models perform.

[williamtaylor]

Welcome to FerrariLife. Have you been able to find a 348/F355 Spider yet?

[hinton308]

Thank you for the inquiry. After reading and talking with various members I have decided to save up and purchase a 2001/2002 360 spider. I think I will have to wait at least another 12-18 months for prices to drop to my buying threshold. If not, then I will buy a 328.
don

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by hinton308

Thank you for the inquiry. After reading and talking with various members I have decided to save up and purchase a 2001/2002 360 spider. I think I will have to wait at least another 12-18 months for prices to drop to my buying threshold. If not, then I will buy a 328.
don

It will be interestign to see how much of an effect the 458 launch has first on 430 prices and then secondly on 360 prices. My guess is early 360s will be at the same level as late low mileage F355s in 12 months.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Originally Posted by Boxer

It will be interestign to see how much of an effect the 458 launch has first on 430 prices and then secondly on 360 prices. My guess is early 360s will be at the same level as late low mileage F355s in 12 months.

From a broader perspective, if the economy takes further dive south next year, who knows where things would settle. w/ smiles ? Jimmy

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS

From a broader perspective, if the economy takes further dive south next year, who knows where things would settle. w/ smiles ? Jimmy

Good news is that at least in Norht Europe, things seems to have stabilized.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

I don't claim myself to be any kind of expertise in economy, yet the current euphoric mood just doesn't feel right when you consider the astronomical spending and ever increasing debt in the US, UK, Japan, et al. Consequences of free printing, borrowing, and spending by governments could be scary. I hope I am way off and wrong in my opinion. w/ smiles Jimmy

[hinton308]

I agree with Jimmie. I think we still have a ways to go. I read a consumer research paper asking the public about their buying habits for the upcoming fourth quarter. It was the lowest numbers ever recorded by the research company. His conclusion basically was that the fourth quarter will be dismal. As a furniture store owner that is not encouraging news as my product is an expensive money purchase, in regards to their disposable income.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Here in Japan, the trend in the last decade or so, the major designers/power brands like Armani, Louis Vuiton, Christian Dior, ad naseum have invested seriously here buying prime real estate and building their beautiful "castles". (There's some data showing that more than one-third of Louis Vuiton's worldwide sales come from earnings to the Japanese). Why ? Because women here are simply crazy for their products, even after the bubble burst over a decade ago, sales were positive, even with occasional price increase due to increased strength in Euro currency at times. However, ...within the last year or so,... sales have taken a change in course. There's a report somewhere indicating that these luxury products (brands) overall suffered ten to twenty percent drop in sales. As far I can recall, this kind of trend was unheard of here. The mood of the economy here in Japan is not good. Very doubtful to expect anykind of improvement soon. Very skeptical about the current cheif Bernanke's skills as the captain. Greenspan ? Remember ? w/ smiles Jimmy

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Don, my apologies for hijacking this thread by steering off topic. Let's return to the original theme of purchasing your new F-car. Any progress since ? I am sure there are ample selections to choose from. F355 have followers here in Japan (sought after model, especially the berlinetta model) and the average market price is in the neighborhood of 9,500,000 J. Yen (around US $100,000) for well kept ones. w/ smiles Jimmy